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Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Roki Sasaki, after a set of promising starts, suffered a clear setback as his command completely went away in the fifth inning.
Other than a home run in the first inning to Andrew Bennetenti, after he fell behind, Sasaki totally looked the part of his new self.
He was attacking the zone and mixing his pitches well, striking out three, and his slider was once again delivering results.
However, things spiraled fast in the fifth inning, allowing a walk, a single, and then an RBI single that left runners on first and third. This hit tied things up 2-2.
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Jun 12, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki (11) reacts after Chicago White Sox designated hitter Andrew Benintendi (23) hits a home run during the first inning at Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images
Miguel Vargas followed that up with a double, putting a runner on second and third with no outs on the board, giving Chicago a 3-2 lead. His first out of the inning came next via a strikeout.
Then, he allowed two more walks, scoring another run that grew the lead to 4-2 with the bases loaded and just one out still.
At this point, Dave Roberts saw enough and pulled the plug on Sasaki’s outing.
Blake Treinen came in, allowing four runs, one of which was earned. They came on a single and then a triple later on.
Sasaki’s full line was 4.1 innings pitched, seven hits, seven earned runs, three walks, and four total strikeouts on 91 total pitches.
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Jun 12, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki (11) delivers a pitch during the first inning aganist the Chicago White Sox at Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images
What are some promising takeaways from Roki Sasaki’s start?
Sasaki’s velocity was up on all of his pitches: 1.6 mph on his fastball, 1.3 mph on the slider, 0.2 mph on his splitter, and 2.5 mph on the forkball.
Also, his fastball had an inch more horizontal break, along with more spin on the fastball and the forkball.
He only allowed five hard-hit balls, two on his splitter, two on the fastball, and one on the slider, which is less than his seven total hits allowed.
Additionally, his velocity continues to remain stable throughout his outs, and he got 11 whiffs on the night too.
Many of his underlying improvements from his recent run of games remain intact, and while this one did not go well, there is reason to hope for better results.
Additionally, the Dodgers tried to get Sasaki to Chicago before the team left, but he experienced delays that could have interrupted his preparation.
The season is long and results will even out, indicating whether his last three starts are real or more of an aberration.
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